Welcome to my home page !
This site is still 'under construction' (expect frequent updates)
When complete, I will answer questions related to the topics presented (in the Navigation bar, left) by eMail. Please read the existing Questions and Answers before asking a new Question :-)
Q) What will you find on this site ?
A) Here you will find details of all my major interests and hobbies. Hopefully I can provide some 'answers' about computer security, preserving your data, astro-imaging and DVD movie making (as well as how to build a windows based diskless 'compute nodes' for a Distributed Computer processing 'DC farm', as used for my 'SETI Wall').
My main home computer runs Windows XP Pro and is left running 24x7. It is rebooted only as necessary to complete MS Updates. My home 'Server' (NAS) runs Windows 2000 and is also left running 24x7 but is never rebooted (it has no connection to the Internet so it can't be Updated). Neither have locked up or crashed in over a year. I put this down to 3 main factors - 2000/XP are old enough (and simple enough) to be (almost) bug free, all non-essential 'Services' have been disabled and I avoid crap commercial software 'free trials' etc. like the plague. Most of my 'hints and tips' thus follow the KISS principle - if you want your computer to run for years, I suggest you do the same :-)
Q) How do I setup and secure my computer (and make it go faster) ?
Answer) I start by showing how to avoid all those useless commercial 'trial-ware' packages that come with your new PC. I then show how you can keep your computer 'lean and mean' by removing unwanted 'applications', 'turning off' useless 'services' and avoiding crap commercial resource and memory hogs. Finally, I present some simple precautions that will help you avoid being infected with a virus or 'decoyed' by a 'phishing' email into giving away your user names and passwords to eBay & PayPal accounts etc.
Q) How do I preserve my data ?
Answer) I reveal how to build a RAID Mirror in a Windows 2000 / XP Pro system that can be used to avoid the loss of all your photo's, music tracks and other irreplaceable data. I also look into using automated back-up software to protect yourself from accidental file deletion and how to recover photo's from corrupted media.
Q) How to build a Home Server ? (NAS ?)
Answer) For the ultimate in data protection and backup, use an old PC to build a 'Home Server' or Network Attached Storage 'device' (NAS) and use it to save copies of all your priceless data. Whilst you are at it, learn about Shares, User Accounts and Networking (and how to make it hard for your kids and their 'wannabe hacker' friends to gain access and trash your data).
Q) How to build a basic star tracking camera mount ?
Answer) A 'Barn Door' or 'Haig Mount' is a simple DIY star tracking mount that anyone can build using basic wood-working skills.
I take you through the 'theory' and actual build and discusses the trade-off's between the various different approaches. The finished BarnDoor is then retro-fitted with a simple motor drive that anyone can build with basic electrical skills (using 'off the shelf' parts such as magnetic reed switch from a burglar alarm 'door open' detector, the insides of an electric clock with a second hand and magnets taken from a kids toy to control a relay switch).
Q) How to retro-fit a motor drive to my telescope's mount ?
Answer) My local Astronomy Society needed to replace the old (mains) motor on their 'pillar mount' used public demonstrations. I describe here how to design and fit a battery operated servo motor and a speed control system with a simple feed-back loop using basic electrical wiring skills and then go on to consider 'advanced' control and PWM motor drive circuits.
Q) How to use a DSLR (eg Canon 350D) to take photo's of the stars ?
Answer) To use a DSLR (digital camera) with your telescope you need to download some open source / free software to control both camera and telescope. For the Canon 350D, you also need to build or buy a serial cable to control the shutter (more modern camera's can be controlled by a USB cable).
The circuit used for the 350D can be adapted to almost any digital camera equipped with a 'manual shutter release' or 'B mode' socket.
Q) How do I use MS PhotoStory 3 to turn my photos into a movie ?
Answer) I show how Microsoft PS3 (available free from the MS site to authenticated Windows XP users) can be used to create a 'movie' from a collection of photo's in both 4:3 TV and 16:9 'letterbox' format. I show how the completed PS3 .wmv can then be converted using Windows Movie Maker and Open Source applications into MPEG format that can then be used to create a movie DVD (see below).
Q) How do I make a movie DVD ?
Answer) I explain how a DVD can be 'built' that will play in a standard domestic DVD player and display in correct 'letterbox' aspect on your TV (unlike those you will make by following most other guides, which can only be 'played' on a PC or with 'black bands' on your TV). After showing how a PhotoStory or movie from your own camera can be made into a DVD, I look at How to convert a PowerPoint presentation to video and How to add Subtitles.
Unlike other guides, I use only Open Source and freeware software - so you can even make your DVD's 'for free' !
Q) Do you have some example Movies ?
Answer) I show some short clips from 'movies' created using MS PhotoStory 3 from photos and a PowerPoint presentation. These are posted mainly to illustrate my 'MS PhotoStory' pages.
Note that the initial postings are the PS3 generated 'raw' output (WMV-I) and will only play in Windows Media Player. Some of the clips are at least 2 processing steps away from a movie (MPEG) format that can be 'burnt' to DVD and played in a stand-alone DVD player
Q) How did you build your Distributed Computing Farm ('SETI Wall') ?
Answer) I used DOS floppy disks to 'boot' my computing 'nodes' by fetching a compressed Win98se Operating System 'image' across my home network and loading it into in a RAM Disk. I explain the 'trials and tribulations' I encountered whilst overcoming Microsoft's built in limitations. Finally I consider what's involved in moving from 'SETI Classic' to 'BOINC' and how the approach might be adapted to booting using a Network Card's BOOTP or from USB sticks.
NOTE, this is mainly of historical interest, since the 'farm' is no longer running.
Q. Do you talk about the Search for extra-Terrestrial Intelligence ?
Answer. Yes, I delivered a Powerpoint presentation to my local Astronomical Society in 2010. Here is the web page version.
... coming soon ...
Q) Where can I find more information (and the software used) ?
Answer) Here are some 'links' to web sites I used in creating this site and the software used in preparing my Answers.
Q) Anything that's not in any of the above ?
Answer) Yes, here's some "off topic" fun stuff.